Tips to Help You Find Affordable Health Care Plans in Wisconsin

Buying a health care plan may actually be more affordable than going without coverage. If you get sick or have an accident, it’s good to know that most of these expenses may be paid by your plan.

Perhaps you have decided to purchase a health plan this year rather than pay the government fee for not having health insurance. In that case, it’s good to find out what you may be able to afford and what plan might fit your needs.

Tip #1 - Have a look at your budget

A good place to start in finding affordable health care plans is to actually write down your monthly expenses and compare that to your income. If you have lots of costs for prescription medication or for doctor or chiropractor visits, these are costs that may be more affordable with health insurance coverage.

Tip #2 - Look at your unique situation

The most affordable health plans available to you depend on where you live, your income, your age and how many people you’re insuring, as well as a few other factors.

Premiums vary by location– For example, if you live in LaCrosse, your premium may be higher than if you live in Madison or Green Bay. Competition, local regulation and cost of living in different areas may account for this

Age– Older people in Wisconsin c​ould be charged up to three times more for premiums than younger people

Individual vs. family enrollment – The more people you have on a plan, the more it may cost

Plan category – Health plans are divided into five general levels. The most affordable health care plans in terms of lower premiums are usually catastrophic plans. This is available to people under 30 or those who meet special requirements. However, these plans typically have high out-of-pocket costs. A platinum play may have higher premiums, but typically has lower out-of-pocket costs.

Tobacco Use – Insurers may charge tobacco users up to 50 percent more than those who don’t use tobacco

Tip #3 – Consider the costs when you use health care services

To help pick the most affordable health care plan, it’s good to consider more than just the premium. If you choose a plan with a cheaper premium, you may pay more when you go to the doctor, get therapy, buy medicine or get tests or screenings. A good source of information is Wisconsin Price Point, a website that allows you to find and compare costs for a range of clinical services.